AKSYON

By Julie M. Aurelio
Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines—It had the makings of a very hip political rally, complete with rock music and fast-moving strobe lights—only this time, the candidates stayed off the stage until the very last minute.

Supporters on Monday night held a solidarity concert for Senators Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and Manuel “Mar” Roxas II hours after they announced their team-up for the Liberal Party (LP) in the May presidential election.

A mix of young adults and older people—mostly wearing Aquino’s signature yellow—packed the UP Theater to show their support for the Aquino-Roxas ticket.

The Noynoy Aquino for President Movement (NAPM) also mounted a fund-raising campaign Tuesday at the Payatas dump in Quezon City, where some 200 residents at Lupang Pangako gathered.

NAPM chair Edgardo Roces said: “This is very symbolic. Here, you have the poor people helping the candidate when usually this is where rich candidates pour their money to buy votes.”

Dubbed “Eto Na Po Talaga! Pinoy Power!” and organized by Aksyon Kabataan, the almost three-hour gig at the University of the Philippines featured big names such as the APO Hiking Society, Noel Cabangon, The Dawn, Aiza Seguerra, Isay Alvarez, Philippine All-Stars and Leah Navarro.

But unlike most concerts, Monday’s musicfest was not just a gathering of supporters but also a fundraising for Aquino’s campaign.

First of many concerts

“This is just the first of many fund-raising events we will hold for Noynoy,” said Paco Alcuaz, who was in charge of the many donation boxes set up at the UP Theater.

Aquino and Roxas, as well as Sen. Francis Pangilinan, attended the concert in a specially designated area at the back of the theater.

The concert started off with a video presentation of the Aquino-Roxas tandem, with the crowd going wild with applause whenever photos or newspaper clips of Aquino were shown on the screen.

The tandem smiled and laughed whenever the audience would flash the “L” or “Laban” sign during musical numbers.

“This is really the people’s work. They are doing these things to give us the things that we lack,” Aquino said in an interview.

Aquino, Roxas and Pangilinan later stood on stage singing “Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo” with the audience and performers bathed in yellow light and flashing “L” signs.

Show stealer Juana Change

Admission was free but concert goers were encouraged to donate whatever amount they could to Aquino’s cause in 15 transparent plastic boxes.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Alcuaz said around P100,000 had been collected, aside from sponsors.

“But we will be using most of the money to pay off expenses for the concert,” Alcuaz said in a phone interview, adding that the rent for the UP Theater alone was P150,000.

Stealing the show was “Juana Change,” a comedienne turned YouTube phenomenon because of her biting remarks on the country’s social ills.

A music entitled “Gapang” featured Juana (real name: Mae Paner) complaining about poverty and corruption while on all fours and singing: “Kawawa naman itong bayan natin (Pity this nation).”

Sharon for Noynoy

Sharon Cuneta said the brother of fellow ABS-CBN talent Kris Aquino shared the same principles as her husband, Senator Pangilinan.

“We believe that there is a need for change in the country. There is a need for an alternative,” Cuneta said.

Some GMA 7 stars also are supporting Noynoy, said Boy Abunda, Kris’ fellow ABS-CBN host.

Singer-songwriter-comedian Ogie Alcasid, a GMA 7 talent, told the Inquirer: “I believe in Noynoy. He has the experience, the youthful energy and an untainted political career.”

Alcasid said he would compose a song for Noynoy’s campaign. “I am not sure how important it is for celebrities to support politicians because a good candidate doesn’t need any endorsement. Filipinos know how and who to vote.”

Comic Tessie Tomas, famous for her impersonations of personalities like Imelda Marcos, said: “I would like to remain neutral. I would like to vote for candidates not based on their personality or family background … but based on their track record and platform.”

Pesos from Payatas

Daria Bondoc, 26, was among those who volunteered to receive tin cans to be used to solicit contributions in Payatas.

Speaking in Filipino, she said: “His (Aquino’s) parents were good people and I hope he will be as good as them.”

Bondoc dropped P2 in the tin can she got, but she said she would ask her 3-year-old son Ryan James to bring it to the daycare center where he studies so the mothers of his classmates can contribute, too.

Estrella Leones, 62, said she gave only P2. But she added: “Who knows? Maybe he (Aquino) will get lucky because of my P2 because it came from my heart.”

The tin cans, which cost the NAPM at least P16 each, will be delivered to Aquino’s house in Quezon City on Nov. 27, the birthday of his father. With reports from Bayani San Diego Jr. and Edson C. Tandoc Jr.

Aksyon Kabataan (AK) is joining thousands of other young people at the PINOY POWER Concert for Noynoy Aquino 7pm tonight at the UP Abelardo Theater, UP Diliman, Quezon City. Featured artists include the APO Hiking Society, Aiza Seguerra, Bayang Barrios, Duster, Isay Alvarez, Juana Change, Leah Navarro, Nicole & Carlo, Noel Cabangon, Paraluman, Philippine All Stars and the Dawn! AK members are serving as ushers. Meeting place is at Chocolate Kiss, Ground Floor, Bahay ng Alumni, 4pm. Look for our National President Leon Flores.

by DJ Yap
Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines — Aksyon Demokratiko, the political party founded by the late senator Raul Roco, has joined the chorus of voices urging Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, to throw his hat into the crowded presidential race in 2010.

The party formally invited Aquino to be its standard bearer on Monday and vowed to help gather the one million signatures needed to convince the son of the late Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. and former president Corazon Aquino to run for president.

“On this day of heroes, our party Aksyon Demokratiko, entreats you, Sen. Noynoy, to run for President of the Philippines,” said Roco’s widow and party chair Sonia M. Roco in a prepared statement she read at a press conference at Club Filipino in San Juan City.

Roco said Noynoy “has the moral character and the emotional strength to withstand the slings and arrows of the outrageous breakdown of our socio-political systems.”

“Therefore, as raw and as unassuming as he is, Noynoy, is the best bet for President,” she said.

Roco said she believed Noynoy to be “more prepared” than his mother Cory was after the Edsa Revolution of 1986, and cited his experience as a legislator.

She said she last talked to Aquino on Aug. 26, in which she first broached the idea of inviting him to Aksyon Demokratiko.

To which she recalled Aquino replying: “Tita, you’ve boosted my confidence,” although he did not commit to anything. “I understand he must be barraged by calls for him to run for president,” Roco said.

Herminio Aquino, Aksyon Demokratiko vice president and Aquino’s grand uncle, said he was not aware of Aquino’s plans in so far as choosing a party was concerned.

“We ourselves are not sure how this will come about. What we want to say is that if he’d need a party, our party is available to him,” he said.

Invited by the group to join the open forum, Inquirer columnist Conrado de Quiros, who has expressed support for an Aquino candidacy, said Aquino’s apparent lack of greed for power made him the best bet for the presidency.

“We can all see that that he is not thirsting for power. That fact alone should tell you about his competence. He who least wants power is the one who most deserves it,” he said.